MRI and Imaging Equipment
Low-permeability 316L lift support for access panels, covers, and adjustable sections on equipment used in and around MRI suites — where the material behaves as carefully as the motion.
- 1 The Spring That Has to Disappear to a Magnetic Field
- 2 Four Places Non-Magnetic Gas Springs for MRI Earn Their Place
- 3 Single Spring or Paired on MRI Equipment
- 4 Material Choice and When to Add a Locking Function
- 5 Specifying Non-Magnetic Gas Springs for MRI: Quick Reference
- 6 Why Material Change Affects the Force Calculation
- 7 Why Imaging OEMs Source Non-Magnetic Gas Springs for MRI from Newtone
- 8 Frequently Asked Questions
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Get a Specification or Quote
The Spring That Has to Disappear to a Magnetic Field
Non-magnetic gas springs for MRI exist because, near an imaging magnet, an ordinary steel gas spring stops being just a lift component and becomes a hazard. A standard spring carries a ferromagnetic rod and body; bring that mass close to a 1.5 or 3 tesla field and it pulls, distorts the image, and complicates the equipment’s safety review. The motion job is unremarkable — hold a panel open, let it close softly. What changes is that the part now has to be nearly invisible to the field around it, which makes the material the first decision, not the last.
This page is for OEM engineers building MRI-related equipment — coil supports, access covers, adjustable accessory panels — and for procurement teams sourcing compatible components for imaging suites. The materials science behind it is covered in depth on our non-magnetic gas springs overview; this page focuses on the MRI case specifically. Newtone manufactures in Turkey and exports to more than 60 countries, building these to order rather than to catalog.
Short answer: a non-magnetic gas spring for MRI is built around austenitic 316L for its low magnetic permeability, with every internal part and end fitting reviewed — not just the outer body. 316L is low-permeability, not zero, so final MR suitability always belongs to the finished equipment and its own evaluation.
Four Places Non-Magnetic Gas Springs for MRI Earn Their Place
The need is not only inside the scanner. It runs through the equipment around it, wherever a moving part sits close enough to the field that a ferromagnetic mass would matter.
Coil & Accessory Support Panels
Hinged supports and covers that position imaging coils and accessories. Light panels, but they sit close to the bore, so a low-permeability 316L build and non-magnetic fittings are non-negotiable here.
Access & Service Covers
Panels on MRI-adjacent equipment that open for cabling or maintenance. They need a clean hold-open and soft close, with every component reviewed against the suite’s material rules before it enters the room.
Patient Comfort & Positioning Sections
Adjustable supports on tables and accessories a patient or technician sets by hand. A smooth, even force matters, and the material must respect the field — the two requirements are specified together.
Ancillary Carts & Room Furniture
Movable equipment kept in the scanner room: lids, flaps, and adjustable sections on carts and storage. Lower field exposure than the bore, but still inside the controlled zone, so non-magnetic build applies.
Single Spring or Paired on MRI Equipment
Most MRI-related panels are light, so a single spring usually does the job. Pairing is about width and even motion across a panel, not raw weight — and when you do pair, both springs must be non-magnetic and force-matched.
⬤ Single Spring Setup
- Light panel under ~8 kg (18 lb)
- Narrow, centered, rigid section
- Coil supports, small access covers
- Centered hinge, no lateral pull
- Fewer components to qualify
⬤ Paired Spring Setup
- Wide panels or positioning sections
- Even motion needed across the panel
- Load above ~8 kg (18 lb) or offset hinge
- Both springs 316L and non-magnetic
- Springs force-matched to ±5%, same batch
Material Choice and When to Add a Locking Function
The defining feature of a non-magnetic gas spring for MRI is its material set, built around austenitic 316L for low magnetic permeability. Two further decisions — corrosion priority and hold function — are worth settling early.
316L and the Limits of “Non-Magnetic”
Austenitic 316L is the right baseline: low magnetic permeability, strong corrosion resistance, and tolerant of the cleaning agents common in clinical settings. It is the same family used for our stainless steel gas springs, but an MRI application demands the full assembly be reviewed for permeability, not just the outer shell. Where corrosion resistance is the goal but magnetic behavior is not a concern, a standard stainless build may be enough — the two requirements should be assessed separately. For documentation that supports your own qualification, see our certificates and share the field strength your equipment is rated for.
Locking Sections That Must Hold a Position
Where an MRI accessory panel or positioning section must stay where it is set, a locking gas spring adds a mechanical hold — and the locking version must also be built non-magnetic. A lock-anywhere unit holds at any point along the stroke for positioning; an end-lock holds at full extension for hold-open. The release mechanism depends on the device and the operator’s reach, so confirm the locking type and the non-magnetic build together at the design stage.
Specifying Non-Magnetic Gas Springs for MRI: Quick Reference
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Body & rod material | Austenitic stainless steel (316L), low magnetic permeability |
| End fittings | Non-magnetic eyelet, ball joint, or fork — reviewed as part of the assembly |
| Force range | 50–2000 N (11–450 lbf); MRI typical 50–500 N (11–112 lbf) |
| Force tolerance | ±5% (tighter than ±10–15% commodity supply) |
| Stroke | Made to order, typically 40–400 mm (1.6–16 in) |
| Seals | HNBR (UV and ozone resistant) as standard |
| Operating temperature | −40°C to +100°C (−40°F to +212°F) |
| MR suitability | Belongs to the finished equipment — confirm field strength & test regime |
Why Material Change Affects the Force Calculation
Switching to a non-magnetic build is not only a corrosion or compliance decision — it touches the physics of the force itself. A gas spring’s output comes from internal pressure acting on the rod’s cross-sectional area, so when the rod material or diameter changes to meet the non-magnetic requirement, the pressure has to be set to keep the target force.
- F — gas spring force, N (lbf)
- ΔP — internal pressure differential across the piston, MPa
- A — rod cross-sectional area, mm²
- d — rod diameter, mm
Worked example. Take an 8 mm (0.31 in) diameter 316L rod. Its area is A = π × 8² ÷ 4 = 50.3 mm². To produce a target force of F = 250 N (56 lbf), the required pressure differential is ΔP = F ÷ A = 250 ÷ 50.3 ≈ 4.97 MPa (about 50 bar). Now suppose the design needs the same 250 N from a slimmer 6 mm (0.24 in) rod to fit a tighter housing: A drops to π × 6² ÷ 4 = 28.3 mm², so ΔP must rise to 250 ÷ 28.3 ≈ 8.84 MPa (about 88 bar) to hold the same force. That is why rod diameter is never a free choice in a non-magnetic build — it sets the pressure, the seal duty, and the long-term force stability together. Share your force target and envelope, and we will size the rod, pressure, and the matching mounting bracket against the full gas spring range.
Mounting protects both the motion and the qualification. Fit the spring with the rod pointing down when the panel is closed so oil keeps the seals lubricated and the close stays smooth. Keep both pivots in the same plane of motion — gas springs take axial load only, and a side-loaded rod wears unevenly. Above all, verify every fitting and bracket in the chain is non-ferromagnetic; the moment-arm geometry follows the same rules as any hinged panel, covered on our non-magnetic gas springs overview.
Why Imaging OEMs Source Non-Magnetic Gas Springs for MRI from Newtone
We manufacture in our own facility in Turkey, so material sourcing, tolerances, and lead times stay under our control — exactly what a sensitive, low-volume, custom application needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
A gas spring intended for MRI-related equipment is built from non-ferromagnetic materials, typically austenitic 316L stainless steel, which has very low magnetic permeability. This reduces the force the static magnetic field exerts on the part and limits image distortion. 316L is low-permeability, not zero, so MR suitability depends on field strength, distance from the bore, and the equipment’s test regime. The full assembly, including end fittings and internal parts, must be reviewed — not just the outer body.
No supplier can label a component MR-safe in isolation. MR-safe and MR-conditional are classifications that depend on the device, the field strength, and the test conditions it is qualified against. A 316L non-magnetic gas spring gives very low magnetic interaction and is a strong candidate, but the classification belongs to the finished equipment after its own evaluation. We supply the material specification and documentation to support that process.
Because stainless does not automatically mean non-magnetic. Common grades such as 304 can become slightly magnetic after cold working, and a stainless outer body says nothing about the rod, piston, or end fittings inside. Near a strong magnetic field even a small ferromagnetic mass can distort an image or create a safety risk. A genuine non-magnetic gas spring is specified around 316L and reviewed as a whole assembly.
Mount it with the rod pointing down in the closed position so oil keeps the seals lubricated and the motion stays smooth and quiet. Keep both pivots in the same plane of motion to avoid side load, which shortens life, and use non-magnetic end fittings that allow slight angular misalignment so the rod is not side-loaded. Confirm every fitting and bracket in the assembly is also non-ferromagnetic, since one steel eyelet undoes the rest.
Newtone manufactures across 50–1000 N (11–225 lbf), with non-magnetic MRI-related units commonly used in the 50–500 N (11–112 lbf) band, since the supported panels are usually light. Stroke is made to order, typically 40–400 mm (1.6–16 in), with force matched to within ±5%. Share the panel weight and geometry and the team will size it.
Conclusion
A non-magnetic gas spring for MRI is a material decision before it is a motion decision. The lift job is ordinary; what makes it specialised is that the component has to be nearly invisible to a powerful magnetic field, which rules out the carbon-steel construction of a standard spring and puts 316L and the full assembly under review.
The two things that go wrong most often are predictable: qualifying the body but leaving a ferromagnetic fitting in the chain, and assuming any stainless grade is non-magnetic. Both are avoided by specifying the whole assembly around 316L and confirming MR suitability against the equipment’s own field strength and test regime — a step that belongs to the finished device, not to any single part.
Newtone builds non-magnetic gas springs to order in 316L, with documentation and engineering support to feed your MR evaluation. Share your application, field strength, and envelope, and we will recommend a configuration — typically within 5 business hours.
Get a Specification or Quote
Tell us your application, panel weight, available space, and the field strength your equipment is rated for. Our engineering team handles material selection, force calculation, and a configuration that fits.
